Eric Cantona isn’t called one time messiah of ManU for no reason. Cantona’s run for France presidency was a short one but the eccentric man has raised awareness of the plight of the poor and homeless.

NationalTurk / Paris – For a moment it appeared like as if King Eric of the football pitch, one-time Messiah of Manchester United, amateur philosopher and now French film and theatre star had taken his capacity for personal reinvention to the limit by aiming for the title of French President. Pictured wearing a tie on the front page of the French daily Libération alongside a letter to French mayors asking for 500 signatures – the symbolic number needed to run for French president – it appeared that Eric Cantona was launching a bid to run for French head of state in the presidential elections this spring.

Eric Cantona for French President : He helps the French poor more than Sarkozy

But in the cold light of morning, Cantona’s gesture was revealed to be the latest in a string of highly effective publicity coups to raise awareness of the plight of poor people in France. Cantona’s letter to local politicians was in fact a call for them to sign a petition on the French housing crisis for the leading charity, the Abbé Pierre Foundation.

But visitors to his website yesterday were redirected to a charity’s petition to improve housing for the poorest people in France.

His website – ericantona.fr – was re-routed directly to a charity’s petition to improve housing for the poorest people in France.

Homeless campaigners the Abbé Pierre Foundation said the device had already brought them an extra 100,000 signatures for their cause.

Eric Cantona vs Nicolas Sarkozy

Eric Cantona was planning to challenge President Nicolas Sarkozy for France’s highest office were revealed to be a stunt to draw attention to the work of a homeless charity. Many do not doubt the sophisticated Frenchman would be a far better and deserving President than the current charlatan of a president, Nicolas Sarkozy.

[adrotate banner=”38″]